Bhuvan Panchayat 3.0

• 31 Jan 2020

Why in News

Recently an upgraded geo-imaging web portal, Bhuvan Panchayat 3.0 was launched during the National Workshop on “Space-based Information Support for Decentralised Planning-2".

• The launch is part of the advanced Space-based Information Support for Decentralised Planning (SISDP) project.
  
  • The SISDP was launched in 2011 and its first phase of making databases was completed in 2017.

Key Points

• The portal uses high-resolution data from recent earth observation satellites and offers detailed information to panchayats about their key assets.
• For the first time, the thematic maps of 1:10,000 scale have been generated based on high-resolution data given by Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) new earth observation satellites.
• It is jointly implemented by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj and Department of Space, ISRO.

Advantages

• Decentralised Planning: "Bhuvan Panchayats" is facilitating decentralised planning at grassroot level. E.g.: It is possible for rural planners to plan and locate a healthcare unit, water harvesting, rural communication network even as they sit in panchayat offices.
• Empowering the Panchayats:The workshop addressed modalities and mechanisms that would be adopted to empower the local bodies in utilizing the space technology in the form of simple-to-use maps, location based services through Navigation in Indian Constellation (NavIC) and high resolution space images based local tools to enable the panchayats with modern technology for sustainable development.
• Technology and Governance: The Panchayati Raj institutions could effectively use space technology for planning, implementation, monitoring and management of resources, including governance.
• Digital India: It can also prove to be an important component for “Digital India” platform for reaching digital thematic maps to about 2.56 Lakh Gram panchayats in the country.

Bhuvan Portal

• Bhuvan (Sanskrit for Earth) is a Geoportal of ISRO , allowing host of services covering visualization, free data download, thematic map display and analysis, timely information on disaster and project specific GIS applications.
• The portal was launched in 2009 and is available in English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu.
• Bhuvan, as a platform, is open and can be used by a diverse user community such as Central and State Governments Departments, Academia and Industry. Few examples are:
  
  • Bhuvan-Bhujal: Ground Water Prospects Information System
  • School Bhuvan: An e-learning portal for the students
  • ENVIS program of Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change
  • Bhuvan Ganga: Enables people participation in providing vital information for Clean Ganga project
  • Srishti-Drishti: An Integrated Watershed Development Program

ENVIS Program

• Environmental Information System (ENVIS) program was started in December, 1982 to provide environmental information to decision makers, policy planners, scientists and engineers, research workers, etc. all over the country.
• ENVIS has started implementing the World Bank assisted Environment Management Capacity Building Technical Assistance Project (EMCBTAP) since January, 2002 which aims at structuring the ENVIS scheme by extending its reach through involvement of Institutions/Organizations in State Governments, academia sector, corporate sector, NGO sector, etc.